Abstract:
Islamic states have given the green light to the establishment of a science and technology innovation organisation or STIO to maximise utilisation of the scientific talent and technological potential of the Muslim world by pooling the resources of the private and public sectors for research and development.

Creation of the STIO was announced at the 27th meeting of the Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference held in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia last month.

Islamic states have also approved Iran's proposals for the establishment of a joint science and technology park, a 'cyber university' and a world-class nanotechnology network to boost science and technology and strengthen research capacity, science education and innovation-based industries.

"Such regional projects for collaboration and capacity building in Islamic countries stretching from Indonesia to Morocco are crucial for strengthening R&D, not only in nanotechnology but also in biomedical technologies, emerging science and technologies," said Ali Karami, an associate professor at the Research Center of Molecular Biology of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran in Iran.